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Carnival season begins!

Published:Tuesday | October 23, 2018 | 12:00 AMKimberley Small/Gleaner Writer
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Minster of Culture, Entertainment, Gender and Sports Oliva 'Babsy' Grange with Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.
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Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is all smiles with a costumed model as a sign of things to come for Carnival 2018-19.
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From left: Kamal Bankay, Councillor Winston Ennis, Edmund Bartlett, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange and Dr Carey Wallace at yesterday's launch of Carnival Jamaica.
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At a joint press conference held at the Spanish Court Hotel yesterday, stakeholders gathered in a show of support for the continuing efforts of the Carnival in Jamaica brand. It was a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Tourism and Culture, Entertainment, Gender and Sport, with the support of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, and the Tourism Linkages Network and the Jamaica Tourist Board, to officially launch Carnival in Jamaica 2018/19.

A collaboration that has existed for the past three years, chairman of the Sport and Entertainment Linkages Network and co-chairman of Carnival in Jamaica Kamal Bankay said, "Entertainment's trickle-down effect is so significant because we touch every aspect of society. Our job - bringing together all of the fetes and the bands, is something really special. I can tell you that this coming together is the secret to success of this wonderful project.

He outlined that Carnival in Jamaica's success last year, was evident in employment statistics. "You're talking about thousands of workers who get direct employment from this activity. "Road March 2018 employed over 100 deejays. By my estimation, there were over 1,500 security personnel and marshals on the ground. How do you get your libation - food and beverage? One thousand beverage and food service providers. It's not just a party - this is the true employment of various industries in Jamaica," Bankay added.

He also revealed that production companies in the corporate area were 'maxed out', and companies in Montego Bay had to be hired to supplement corporate area activities.

Along with employment numbers, Bankay also revealed the growth in the number of revellers. "We're happy to announce that in 2018, the revellers on the road were in excess of 6,000," spectator count was in excess of 25,000.

To encourage more growth, carnivalinjamaica.com is now live. Local and international revellers will have access to a one-stop information hub, hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board.

 

Big Business

 

"We know that this is entertainment, but this is also business. It's big business. It's not one event. I want to see Carnival be a revolving activity," Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett remarked.

Though the season culminates during Easter, Bartlett believes there must be constant carnival activities, in terms of preparatory work - infrastructural arrangements. "The creative work that goes into Carnival is a 24/7 activity, because new innovative designs have to emerge each year to make Carnival exciting and aesthetically pleasing to the eye," he added.

According to Bartlett, during the Carnival season, arrivals through Norman Manley International Airport increased by 19.7 per cent between 2016 and 2018.

As all involved look forward to 2018 being bigger than ever, the three returning bands this year are: Bacchanal Jamaica, Xodus Carnival, Xaymaca International, with hopes of the return of Jamaica Carnival. Downtown Kingston carnival also returns this year as well as Ocho Rios Carnival.